ZooTampa at Lowry Park has wrapped a $33 million fundraising campaign that will bankroll the zoo's Florida Waters expansion and the new Straz Family Manatee Rescue. The haul greenlights underwater manatee viewing, an otter enclave, a jellies attraction and a mangrove walk that the zoo plans to open this spring. Zoo leaders say the project is designed to boost rescue and rehabilitation capacity for native Florida species while giving visitors a front-row seat to the work.
According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, the five-year Guardians of Wildlife capital campaign closed at $33 million. Local coverage and zoo officials have described the total as the final push needed to bring Florida Waters across the finish line, while FOX 13 Tampa Bay has already taken viewers behind the scenes with construction tours and staff walkthroughs.
What's in Florida Waters
ZooTampa says Florida Waters centers on a reimagined manatee rescue area with eye-level underwater viewing, plus Stingray Shores, an Otter Oasis and a Reptile & Amphibian Discovery that highlights native species, as detailed by ZooTampa. The area also includes a mangrove walk and a jellies exhibit meant to teach visitors about Florida's waterways and the threats facing them. Zoo leaders say the layout is built so guests can watch rehabilitation work unfold in real time while still keeping animals shielded from visitor noise and traffic.
Manatees and conservation
Last year ZooTampa set a record by releasing 26 rehabilitated manatees back into Florida waters, a milestone that underscores growing demand for critical-care space, according to Patch. The David A. Straz Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, the park's long-running rescue hub, has treated hundreds of animals since 1991 and will expand its pool capacity and visitor viewing as part of the new project, Business Observer reported.
Funding and next steps
ZooTampa says the campaign money will be used to finish construction and support early operations, with the zoo aiming to welcome guests to Florida Waters this March or later in spring. The Tampa Bay Business Journal reported on the $33 million close and described a mix of private philanthropy and institutional support behind the effort.
Zoo officials say the expansion will broaden education programs and strengthen rescue partnerships while giving visitors a rare chance to observe rehabilitation work up close, local coverage has noted. FOX 13 Tampa Bay has previously highlighted preview tours of the new space and the zoo's emphasis on conservation-driven programming.
